Transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system

ABSTRACT

A transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system for wirelessly transmitting multimedia content from one transit vehicle to another transit vehicle for broadcast of the multimedia content to passengers traveling in the transit vehicles. Each transit vehicle includes a receiver for receiving the multimedia content or storage device for retrieving the multimedia content and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the multimedia content to a receiver located on another transit vehicle. Each of the transit vehicles includes broadcast device for broadcasting the multimedia content to the passengers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/279,444 filed Oct. 24, 2002, which application is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to transit vehicle broadcast and more particularly, to a system and method for wirelessly transmitting multimedia content between two or more transit vehicles for broadcasting the multimedia content to passengers traveling in the transit vehicles.

Problem

It is a problem in the field of broadcast systems to provide multimedia content to a plurality of passengers traveling in transit vehicles having a plurality of interconnected cars while also distributing the multimedia content to each of the interconnected cars. Typical transit vehicles having two or more cars are interconnected physically and electrically. The physical connection retains each next adjacent car connected to the previous car. One car on the transit vehicle may include a generator for providing electricity to the interconnected cars. A connector located at one end of each car connects to a mating connector located on the next adjacent car, thus providing electricity to each one of the two or more cars. However, a problem arises when a spare connection within the connector and corresponding mating connector is not available for use distributing multimedia content between the cars for broadcast to passengers traveling in the cars.

A typical solution is installation of a storage device in each one of the cars and connection of each storage device to a video graphic display for broadcasting the stored multimedia content to the passengers traveling in the car. Use of a plurality of storage devices requires multimedia to be downloaded to each storage device individually. Furthermore, each storage device is individually controlled; therefore, the multimedia content broadcast to the passengers is not synchronized and the multimedia content retrieved from one storage device may vary from the multimedia content broadcast from another storage device located in another car.

Another solution may be the addition of another set of connectors for distributing multimedia content between the interconnected cars. However, addition of another connector requires existing cars in the field to be rewired. Adding additional wiring to existing cars which requires the two mating connected to automatically connect when the vehicles are attached increases the cost of installing the broadcast system on the transit vehicle since the connects requires both a physical and electrical connection.

Wireless transmission between interconnected cars is known for transmitting operational characteristics (U.S. Patent Application, Publication Number 20020049520 A1) in a daisy-chain fashion along a number of interconnected cars comprising the transit vehicle. A master controller within one of the cars serves as an interface with an external system for providing real-time data to a control site. The data provided to the control site may include sensor information, railcar identification, status, trouble spots, locations and warning. Another known system which wirelessly transmits the control data is disclosed in a patent application filed in Japan, Publication Number 01138916 JP. Pub. No. 01138916 JP discloses a system which includes a receiver and a transmitter at each of the front end and the read end for transmitting control data about each car to a host computer where the information is collected and managed. The information collected and managed is not distributed between the cars for broadcast to the passengers.

A known broadcast system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,822, issued to Diaz et al. includes a multi-functional antenna on the vehicle for communicating with the vehicle to provide information for and about the vehicle's operational status and coordinating the vehicles activities. The system antenna also receives traditional broadcast such as AM/FM radio and television signals, transmit and receive citizens band (CB) radio signals, satellite and microwave and cellular telephone communications. While the system disclosed in Diaz et al. may broadcast the received audio and/or video to the passengers traveling in the vehicle, the system requires the vehicle to travel in areas where traditional broadcast is available. When the vehicle travels outside of the area where traditional broadcast is available, audio and or video signals are not received and therefore, the broadcast to the passengers ceases.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,900 issued to Ali et al., discloses a system for automatic serialization of an array of wireless nodes for determining the sequence of cars in a train. In this system, each car is equipped with a wireless communication device that requires no physical connection to the next. Each car forwards the wave pattern received from the adjacent car to the next adjacent car until the wave pattern is received by the head-end unit where the head-end unit constructs a train map which is the sequence of the cars. Another system for determining the position of vehicles in a convoy of vehicles is disclosed in German Patent Number EP0357963 issued to Bragas et al., where each vehicle in the convoy includes a transmitter and receiver for transmission of carrier modulated by data for determining the position of each vehicle in the convoy.

While these systems provide wireless transmission from one vehicle to the next, the systems do not provide for transmission of multimedia content for broadcast to the passengers traveling in the vehicles in areas where traditional broadcast is lacking or not available. The wireless transmission is limited in function to conveying the received wireless position or control data transmission to a next adjacent vehicle and is not directly linked to any broadcast system within the vehicle.

For these reasons, a need exists for a system for wirelessly distributing multimedia content to a plurality of interconnected cars with devices located in each car for broadcasting the received multimedia content to the passengers traveling in the car.

Solution

A transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system for wirelessly transmitting multi-media content from one car of a transit vehicle to another car for broadcast of the multimedia content to passengers traveling in the cars. Each transit vehicle includes a receiver for receiving the multimedia content or a storage device for retrieving the multimedia content and a transmitter for transmitting the multimedia content to a receiver located on the car. Prior to transmitting, the multimedia content may be converted to a wireless frequency and may be amplified for transmission. Each of the transit vehicles includes at least one broadcast device for broadcasting the multimedia content to the passengers traveling within the corresponding car.

Each transit vehicle may include a converter for converting the received multimedia content for display on one or more video graphic display devices or wirelessly transmitted within the transit vehicle for receipt by hand held devices that are capable of receiving the transmitted wireless multimedia content and are in the possession of passengers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form, the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system for wirelessly transmitting multimedia content between transit vehicles for broadcast to passengers traveling within the transit vehicles;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of the operation of the broadcast system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram form, a system for broadcasting multimedia content to passengers traveling in a transit vehicle having a plurality of interconnected cars;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of operation of the broadcast system illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates in block diagram form, an alternative configuration of the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of the operation of the system illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates in block diagram form, an alternative configuration of the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system for wirelessly transmitting multimedia content between transit vehicles for broadcast to passengers traveling within the transit vehicles;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of the operation of the broadcast system illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates in block diagram form, an alternative configuration of the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system for wirelessly transmitting multimedia content between transit vehicles for broadcast to passengers traveling within the transit vehicles, and

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of the operation of the broadcast system illustrated in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The transit vehicle wireless transmission system summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. This detailed description of the preferred embodiment is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as a particular example thereof. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and not of limitation.

A typical broadcast system for transit vehicles having multiple interconnected cars includes a storage device located in each vehicle connect to a closed circuit audio and/or audio/video system for broadcast of content to the passengers traveling in the corresponding car. Referring to the block schematic diagram of FIG. 1, for purpose of illustration and discussion, the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system may include at least one storage device 12 for storing multimedia content for broadcast to passengers traveling in the transit vehicle. Alternatively, the multimedia content may be downloaded to the car and distributed to another car and broadcast to the passengers as the multimedia content is received.

FIG. 1 illustrates the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system for wirelessly distributing multimedia content between cars on a train having two cars 10 and 20 although the train may include a plurality of interconnected cars. When the transit vehicle includes more than two cars, the multimedia content is transmitted to a receiver in a next car which may or may not be directly adjacent to the transmitter. In this configuration, the transmitter may transmit the multimedia content to a receiver on a car separated from the transmitter by one or more other cars. Still referring to FIG. 1, storage device 12 may include a memory for storing software for operation of the storage device as well as storing the multimedia content and a processor for executing the stored software in accordance with the following description. The storage device may be connected to a closed circuit system 15 for providing audio, video or a combination thereof to the passengers. Alternatively, the multimedia content may be wireless distributed to devices capable of receiving the multimedia content.

The multimedia content may be prerecorded content or may be wirelessly downloaded to the transit vehicle. The multimedia content is illustrated and described as residing in memory within storage device 12, although the multimedia content may be stored on an alternative medium for distribution via a device capable of retrieving the multimedia content from the alternative medium, such as a combination of a storage disk and a disk player. Likewise, the multimedia content may be downloaded to the storage device while the transit vehicle is stationary or while the transit vehicle is traveling.

A converter 13 is connected to the storage device 12 for converting the stored multimedia content to a wireless frequency for transmitting the stored multimedia content via transmitter 14 to receiver 24 located on adjacent car 20. Storage device 12 also distributes the stored multimedia content to video graphic displays 16 and 18 located in first car 10. Receiver 24 located in adjacent car 20 broadcasts the received multimedia content to passengers traveling in adjacent car 20 via video graphic displays 26 and 36 located in adjacent car 20.

Referring to the schematic block diagram of FIG. 1 in conjunction with the flow diagram of FIG. 2, operationally, the multimedia content stored in storage device 12 is retrieved in step 100 and broadcast in step 102 to the passengers traveling in the first car 10 via video graphic displays 16 and 18. The multimedia content retrieved from storage device 12 in step 100 is also converted to a predetermined wireless frequency in step 101 which is transmitted in step 102 to receiver 24 in adjacent car 20. The multimedia content received in step 106 is broadcast in step 108 to passengers traveling in the adjacent car 20.

When a train comprises a plurality of interconnected cars, each adjacent car includes a receiver at one end of the car and a transmitter at the other end of the car 20. Each adjacent car having a receiver and a transmitter provides the components necessary to distribute the multimedia content stored on storage device 12 located in first car 10 to each next adjacent car. Referring to the schematic block diagram of FIG. 3 in conjunction with the flow diagram of FIG. 4, adjacent car 20 wirelessly receives the multimedia content transmitted from first car 10 in step 120. The multimedia content received in step 120 is then transmitted in step 124 to a next adjacent car 30. The multimedia content received in step 120 is also converted to digital format in step 122 and broadcast to passengers traveling within adjacent car 20 in step 124 on video graphic display device 26 located within adjacent car 20. Likewise, the multimedia content received at receiver 34 in next adjacent car 30 is broadcast to passengers traveling within next adjacent car 30 on video graphic display device 36 located within adjacent car 30.

More specifically, each next adjacent car includes a converter 25 for converting the multimedia content step 132 for broadcast on video graphic display 28 located within the car 20 in step 134 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Adjacent car 20 may also include a repeater 29, or amplifier, for amplifying the received wireless signal in step 136 prior to transmission of the amplified signal in step 138 to the next adjacent car. Amplifier 29 may be combined with the receiver or the transmitter and may include circuitry to determine whether the received wireless signal requires amplification prior to transmission. Likewise, receiver 24 or video graphic display device 28 may include converter 25 or converter 25 may be a stand along piece of equipment.

In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, each next adjacent car 20 may include a storage device 22 for storing and processing the multimedia content received. In this embodiment, multimedia content transmitted in step 102 from previous car 10 and received in step 106 at adjacent car 20, may be stored in step 107 for later broadcast to passengers in step 108 as illustrated in the flow diagram of FIG. 8. The received multimedia content may also be transmitted in step 109 to a next adjacent car for broadcast or storage. The received multimedia content may be converted to digital format for storage and/or broadcast.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, multimedia content is downloaded to a receiver 17 in one of the multiple cars 10 and the received multimedia content is transmitted to another car via transmitter 14. In this embodiment, the multimedia content is not stored prior to broadcast to the passengers traveling in the car. Instead, the received multimedia content is broadcast to the passengers. Referring to the flow diagram of FIG. 10 in conjunction with the block schematic diagram of FIG. 9, as the multimedia content is received in step 150, the receiver 17 distributes the received multimedia content. In step 152 the multimedia content is broadcast to passengers and in step 154 the multimedia content is transmitted to another car for broadcast to passengers traveling in that car. As previously discussed, the broadcast to the passengers may be via a closed circuit audio, video or audio/video device, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the received multimedia content may be wireless transmitted within the car for receipt via wireless devices within the car or in the possession of passengers.

As to alternative embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present transit vehicle wireless transmission broadcast system may be implemented with alternative configurations. While the multimedia content has been illustrated and described for broadcast to passengers via video graphic display devices connected to the storage device or to the receiver, alternative configurations may be substituted. For example, the multimedia content may be audio broadcast via speakers within the transit vehicle or may be audio, video or a combination thereof that is wirelessly broadcast for receipt by handheld devices in the possession of passengers that are capable of receiving the wireless multimedia. Similarly, while the multimedia content has been illustrated and described as residing in memory within the storage device, the audio and/or audio/video content may be stored on an alternative medium for distribution via a device capable of retrieving the multimedia content from the alternative medium, such as a combination of a storage disk and a disk player.

It is apparent that there has been described a transit vehicle wireless transmission system that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the present transit vehicle wireless transmission system has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and/or variations can be devised by those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A transit vehicle broadcast system for broadcasting multimedia content to a plurality of passengers traveling in a transit vehicle having multiple cars, interconnected in a predetermined order, the transit vehicle broadcast system comprising: first means, located in a one of said cars of said transit vehicle, for receiving said multimedia content; first means, located in a one of said cars of said transit vehicle, for wirelessly broadcasting said received multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said one of said cars of said transit vehicle; first means, located in a one of said cars of said transit vehicle, for wirelessly transmitting said received multimedia content to a second of said cars of said transit vehicle, interconnected in a predetermined order; and second means, located in said second of said cars of said transit vehicle, for receiving said transmitted multimedia content for broadcast to passengers traveling in said predetermined second of said cars of said transit vehicle.
 2. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1 further comprising: first storage means, located in a one of said cars of said transit vehicle, for storing said multimedia content; and processing means to manage said multimedia content and to distribute and broadcast said multimedia content.
 3. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 2 further comprising: second storage means connected to said second wireless receiving means for storing said received multimedia content for broadcast to said plurality of passengers traveling in said another one of said cars of said transit vehicle.
 4. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 2 further comprising: means for converting said multimedia content stored on said first storage means to a predetermined wireless frequency; and means for transmitting said converted multimedia content for receipt by passengers who are in possession of devices capable of receiving wireless transmission at said predetermined wireless frequency.
 5. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1 further comprising: closed circuit broadcast means for broadcasting said multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said cars of said transit vehicle, each of said cars of said transit vehicle having said closed circuit broadcast means.
 6. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1 wherein said wireless transmitting means further comprises: means for converting said multimedia content to a predetermined wireless frequency.
 7. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1 further comprising: second means for wirelessly transmitting located in said another one of said cars of said transit vehicle, for wireless transmitting said received multimedia content to a predetermined third one of said cars of said transit vehicle.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A transit vehicle broadcast system for wirelessly distributing multimedia content for broadcast to a plurality of passengers traveling in two or more interconnected cars of a multi-car transit vehicle, said transit vehicle broadcast system comprising: a first storage device for storing said multimedia content, including a processing means to manage said stored multimedia content for transmission to a predetermined another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle; a first transmitter connected to said first storage device for wirelessly transmitting said stored multimedia content to said predetermined another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle; a receiver located in said predetermined another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle, wirelessly receiving said multimedia content wirelessly transmitted from said first transmitter; and broadcast means, located in said predetermined another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle, for wirelessly broadcasting said received multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said predetermined another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle.
 10. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 9 wherein said first transmitter further comprises at least one of: a converter for converting said multimedia content to a predetermined wireless frequency; and an amplifier for amplifying said multimedia content prior to transmitting said multimedia content to said another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle.
 11. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 9 further comprising: a second storage device located in said another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle for storing said wirelessly received multimedia content for broadcasting said multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle.
 12. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 9 further comprising: an amplifier connected to said receiver, located in said another one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle, for amplifying said wirelessly received multimedia content to produce an amplified multimedia content; a second transmitter for transmitting said amplified multimedia content to a third one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle; and a second receiver, located in said third one of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle for receiving said amplified multimedia content.
 13. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 9 for further use in broadcasting said multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle, said method further comprising: a plurality of video graphic display means for displaying said multimedia content to said plurality of passengers, each of said two or more cars of a multi-car transit vehicle having at least one of said plurality of video graphic display means.
 14. A method for distributing multimedia content stored on a server to a plurality of interconnected cars of a multi-car transit vehicle for broadcast to a plurality of passengers traveling in said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle, said plurality of interconnected cars each including one of a plurality of wireless transmitters and one of a plurality of wireless receivers, the method for distributing multimedia content comprising: retrieving said multimedia content stored on said server located within one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; wirelessly transmitting said retrieved multimedia content to a one of said plurality of receivers located in a predetermined another one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle via a corresponding one of said plurality of transmitters located within said one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; receiving said multimedia content transmitted from said one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle at a corresponding one of said plurality of receivers located on said predetermined another one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting said received multimedia content to a second one of said plurality of receivers via said one of said plurality of transmitters on said predetermined another one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle.
 15. The method for distributing multimedia content of claim 14 wherein said step of wirelessly transmitting said retrieved multimedia content comprises: converting said multimedia content to a predetermined wireless frequency; amplifying said converted multimedia content to produce an amplified multimedia content; and transmitting said amplified multimedia content to each of said another one of said plurality of receivers on said another one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle.
 16. The method for distributing multimedia content of claim 14 for further use in broadcasting said multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle, the method further comprising: broadcasting said received multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle on a plurality of video graphic displays, each one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle having at least one of said plurality of video graphic displays.
 17. The method for distributing multimedia content of claim 16 further comprising: wirelessly transmitting said received multimedia content to a plurality of hand-held devices capable of receiving said wireless multimedia content.
 18. A method for broadcasting multimedia content to a plurality of passengers traveling in a plurality of interconnected cars of a multi-car transit vehicle, said method comprising: wirelessly receiving said multimedia content at a first one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; wirelessly transmitting said received multimedia content to a predetermined next one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; in each next one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle, wirelessly receiving said transmitted multimedia content at said another one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; in each next one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle, wirelessly transmitting said received multimedia content at said another one of said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle; and broadcasting said received multimedia content to said plurality of passengers traveling in said plurality of interconnected cars of said multi-car transit vehicle.
 19. (canceled) 